Jamaica Sidekicks Taekwondo Association (1997)

The following document, the Constitution of the Sidekicks Taekwondo Association, formerly "Songahm" will now govern the operation of the Sidekicks Association and its associated branches, Clubs and schools; and the administrative duties and responsibilities and professional conduct of the Association's Directors, Officers, Instructors and members.

This document, and its contents, becomes the binding instrument constituting the Sidekicks Taekwondo Association for Directors, Officers, Instructors and members and all are bounded and govern by all articles of this document. The document can be disregarded only upon the dissolution of vote by the Sidekicks Taekwondo Association members as constituted in this document at its annual general meeting.

Name of Association
The Association will now be called the
Sidekicks Taekwondo Do Association. (STA TAEKWONDO)
Originally called "Songahm Taekwondo Association."

STA defines the the following as follows: Black Belt - a person who has passed the black belt examinations set by the Sidekicks Taekwondo Do Association, which has been sanctioned and certified by the Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy, with its international headquarters in San Diego California.

Instructor - a Certified Black Belt who operates either his or her own training school/club which is sanctioned by the Sidekicks Taekwondo Do Association; or who operates a training class separate from any other training operations, e.g. self defense seminars for law enforcement, which is sanctioned by the Sidekicks Taekwondo Do Association. Instructors must be certified. Certified instructor status must come out of international headquarters and has a tenure of not exceeding 3 years.

Student - a member of the public who trains within the association under an Instructor, is considered to be a member of the respective training school or club operated by a certified Instructor, and who is up to date on the payment of membership dues and training fees to the certified Instructor and to the Sidekicks Taekwondo Do Association.

Association Badge
Students please refer to document - Instructor/Student Manuals

Association UNIFORM
See document - Instructor/Student Manuals

Purpose of the Association
Our purpose is the promotion of the skill, art, value and tradition of Taekwondo

1. We define Taekwondo as a martial art that develops physical and mental abilities in those who practice
2. We recognize Taekwondo as a self - improvement program which enhances the quality of life.
3. Accomplishment of our purpose is achieve through an association of affiliated schools and clubs,
each committed to a common standard of ethics and procedures. In order to fulfill its purpose, the
association will provide:

1. A standard system designed to develop the mental and physical skill, art and tradition of Taekwondo.

2. Guidelines and requirements reguarding related group activities that enhances Taekwondo educational
process, including promotional testings, tournaments and classes.
3. A structured programme for the training, development, evaluation, certification and continued education
of qualified certified instructors.
4. A business forum for the free exchange, among association members, of ideas, concerns, and effective
business methods and procedures.
5. The association will make its best effort to assist each member schools and clubs in the establishment
and maintainance of a successful operations.

Association structure. The Association is comprised of:

1 Student of the Sidekicks Taekwondo Association affiliated schools.
11 Instructors who have been trained and certified by the International
Sidekicks Martial Arts Academy
111 Owners/Operators of Sidekicks Taekwondo affiliated schools.
1V Officers and members of the of the Sidekicks Taekwondo Council.

The Association will consist of the following:

Roles and responsibilities of STA members. Student are required to:

1. Understand and apply the tenets of Taekwondo in life
2. Actively participate in class, testings and all related activities sanction by the association.

Instructors are required to:

3. pursue excellence in maintaining and improving personal technique and teaching methods.
4. teach regularly and dependable in an associated school or club.
5. serve as needed at association testings activities
6. provide a living example by maintaining the highest personal and professional standards.

Objectives of the Association

1. To perpetuate training in the martial art of Taekwondo do throughout Jamaica. This Objective will entail the establishment of training schools or classes in communities throughout the island, and the provision of Certified Instructors only sanctioned and authorized by the Association to operate these and classes. This Objective will also entail the Association planning and implementing promotional events and activities whenever necessary aimed at increasing awareness and interest in taekwondo do, for example, tournaments, training seminars, demonstrations, motivational lectures, etc.
2. To maximize each Student's potential through professional instruction and training of professional standard, continually enhancing and improving the student's physical and mental abilities; and emphasizing the tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit within a disciplined training environment that nurtures personal development, cultivates harmonious inter-relationships between Students and Instructors. Encourages social growth and responsibilities through our student oath as outlined:

I am a student of Taekwondo!
I strive to live honorably through peaceful means;
I have the courage to face all challenges, and the strength to conquer;
I respect my juniors and seniors, and live in harmony with my family, friends, and neighbors;
I am dedicated to my physical, mental, and spiritual growth;
I am a student of Taekwondo!

3. To maximize the potential of every certified Instructor and Black Belt in every school and clubs sanction by the Association. The Association will ensure that all its Instructors are highly qualified martial artists and professional instructors of Taekwondo do through regular and International Instructors Courses, or other educational courses or programs, tournaments or other competitions, where appropriate and relevant.

Association Not Formed for Profit

The Association is not for profit, and will collect membership fees and other dues as the Board of Directors may deem applicable, from Instructors, Black Belts and Students in training schools and clubs affiliated to the Association. These fees will be utilized namely for the following purposes only:

1. to meet objectives of international fees obligations
2. to cover the costs of the Association's administrative functions.
3. to pay salaries to the Association's Directors. (if appointed)
4. to meet stipend payments for services rendered by individuals and members.

The Constitution of the Association

The management of the Association will be conducted by the Board of Directors, and three Management Committees - the Marketing Committee; the Disciplinary Committee; and the Examination Board. These Management Committees will comprise no more than three members each. Each Management Committee will be chaired by a Director, who will appoint two other members from either the Association's Instructors and Black Belts to assist in the planning and implementation of the activities to be pursued by the respective Committee. Note the Marketing Committee is the only Management Committees to which students may be appointed to by the Marketing Director .

The Board of Directors may appoint Executive Committees when necessary, to assist in the administration of the Association. Each Executive Committee will comprise no more than three members each. Each Committee will be chaired by an Instructor or Black Belt, who will appoint two other members from the Association's Instructors and Black Belts (or Students, where deemed necessary), to assist in the planning and implementation of the activities to be pursued by the respective Committee. Executive Committees will remain in effect no longer than the administrative term of the Board of Directors who appointed the Committees, and will be dissolved at the next Special General Meeting subsequent to the Committees' appointment.

5. Election of Directors/Officers

The Board of Directors will be elected at Special General Meetings. All Instructors and Black Belts who have been training in Association-sanctioned training classes or schools for at least two times per month throughout the term of office of the Board of Directors, will be eligible for election to the Board of Directors or to the Marketing Committee, the Disciplinary Committee and the Examination Board.

All Directors will serve a term of office of twenty-four months. At the end of this term, the Directors will retire office and become eligible for re-election at the next Special General Meeting.

6. Special General Meetings

Special General Meetings will be held every two years, subsequent to the election of a Board of Directors for the Association. Special General Meetings must be held by September 1 or no later than two months after the expiration of the term of office of the Board of Directors. The President will ensure that sufficient notice is given to all Directors, Instructors and Black Belts so that a quorum will be present for the meeting.

Special General Meetings will be attended by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. All Instructors and Black Belts who have been training in Association-sanctioned training classes or schools for at least twice per month throughout the term of office of the Board of Directors, will be eligible to vote. The outgoing Secretary will keep a register of those Instructors and Black Belts eligible to vote. Each Instructor and Black Belt eligible to vote will be entitled to one vote only. Eligible Instructors and Black Belts will not be allowed to vote by proxy.

The quorum at Special General Meetings will consist of seventy percent of all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. Resolutions or decisions will be considered passed by majority votes from this quorum.

Special General Meetings will be chaired by the outgoing President. The outgoing Secretary will present the Report of the Board of Directors, which will detail and account for the Association's activities for the term of office of the outgoing Board of Directors, including the activities of any appointed Executive Committees. The outgoing Treasurer will present the Association's most recent audited Financial Statement. At the conclusion of this presentation, the Board of Directors will be considered retired. The outgoing President will then appoint an Officer of Election to supervise the election of a new Board of Directors.

The Officer of Election may not be nominated for a position on the Board of Directors. The Officer of Election will ensure that only Instructors and Black Belts eligible to vote are allowed to participate in
nominations and voting, though this will not necessitate the removal of ineligible Instructors and Black Belts from the Special General Meeting.

The Officer of Election will seek nominations for each position on the Board of Directors. Each nomination for a position on the Board of Directors must be seconded, and there will be no more than three persons nominated per position. Utilizing a secret ballot system, the Officer of Election will call for votes on each nominee. The nominee securing the most votes will be appointed to the respective position. In the case of ties, the Officer of Election will appoint the senior nominee for the position. In the case of equal rank of nominees, the Officer of Election will consider each nominee's commencement date for training, and/or age, and will accordingly appoint the nominee who has either been training the longest or who is older.

The Officer of Election will ensure that positions are nominated and elected in the following order: Marketing Director; , Director of Disciplinary Committee, Treasurer; Secretary; Second Vice-President;
First Vice-President; President.

Each Director on the Board will serve a term of office of twenty-four months, whereupon each Director will be considered retired, becoming eligible for re-election at the next Special General Meeting in twenty-four months.

Upon election of the new Board, the newly appointed President will chair the continued Special General Meeting, and will see that the respective Management Committees are appointed by the respective Directors appointed to chair these Committees. No Executive Committees will be appointed at Special General Meetings.

The new President will open discussions with Instructors and Black Belts on any issues of concern relating to the Association's Objectives, activities, procedures and policies. Instructors and Black Belts may utilize the Special General Meeting to vote on resolutions related to the Association's activities, procedures and policies.

These discussion and resolutions will guide the Board of Directors' plans, strategies and activities over the Board's term of office.

7. Annual General Meetings

Annual General Meetings will be held every year. Annual General Meetings must be held by March 1 or no later than one month after the anniversary of the election of the present Board of Directors. The President will ensure that sufficient notice is given to all Directors, Instructors and Black Belts. Annual General Meetings will be attended by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. Annual General Meetings will be chaired by the President. The President will present the Report of the Board of Directors, which will detail and account for the Association's activities for the past year, including the activities of any appointed Executive Committees. The Treasurer will present the Association's most recent audited Financial Statement. At the conclusion of this presentation, the President will then open discussions with Instructors and Black Belts on any issues of concern relating to the Association's Objectives, activities, procedures and policies.

8. General Meetings

General Meetings may be convened by the President, at any time. General Meetings will be attended by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. The President will ensure that sufficient notice is given to all Directors, Instructors and Black Belts. General Meetings will be called to address matters which the President feels merits the concern and immediate attention of all Instructors and Black Belts.

9. Duties and Responsibilities of the Directors

1. President.

The President will be any person who is competent in managing the affairs of the Association as it relates to its Objectives. The President will be responsible for ensuring that the Association's Board of Directors plans and implements activities throughout the Board's administrative year which will directly or indirectly facilitate the achievement of the Association's Objectives. The President will be committed to ensuring that the Association
achieves its Objectives.

The President will also be responsible for ensuring that the Association's Directors obey the Association's
Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing
body. The President will convene and chair Board Meetings, and will ensure that the Board of Directors regularly
monitors the progress of activities pursued by the Management and Executive Committees, and will ensure that
these Committees' activities are in keeping with the Association's Objectives.

The President will be the Association's spokesperson to the public, the media or other organizations. The President may elect another Director to substitute as spokesperson on occasion where warranted by unavailability, absence or illness. This Director, however, will not assume the duties and responsibilities of the President without the approval of the Board.

The President will have a deep understanding and appreciation of taekwondo, and will be committed to
maintaining the distinction between the Association's taekwondo do and all other martial arts practiced locally.

2. Vice-President.

The Vice-President will be an instructor or black belt who will share the President's responsibility for ensuring that the Association's Board of Directors plans and implements activities throughout the Board's administrative year which will directly or indirectly facilitate the achievement of the Association's Objectives. The Vice-President will be committed to ensuring that the Association achieves its Objectives.

The Vice-President will be responsible for liaising directly with the Association's Students, and will be committed to enhancing the welfare of Students throughout the Association. The Vice-President will monitor the Student Committees in all the Association's schools, and will ensure that these Committees pursue activities in keeping with the Association's Objectives, and in keeping with the Objectives outlined in each Student Committee's Constitution.

The Vice-President will ensure that the Association's Student Body is advised and informed of all Association affairs, when pertinent or appropriate. The First Vice-President will also ensure that Students' interests are represented at Board Meetings.

In the President's absence, and with the approval of the Board of Directors, the Vice-President will be the Association's spokesperson to the public, the media or other organizations. The Vice-President will not assume any other responsibilities of the President in the President's absence, without the approval of the Board of Directors.

4. Secretary.
The Secretary will be responsible for keeping and maintaining accurate records of all meetings of the Board of Directors, all Special General Meetings and General Meetings; for storing all correspondence to the Association, and its Directors, and for ensuring that this correspondence is promptly replied; and for storing and maintaining all information related to all Students in the Association. The Secretary will also share the President's responsibility for ensuring that the Association's Directors obey the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, and the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body; and for ensuring that the Association implements activities and procedures in keeping with the Association's Objectives.

The Secretary will take minutes at all meeting of the Board of Directors. These minutes will be circulated to all present at these Meetings, within two weeks after all meetings of the Board of Directors, and within one week after Special Board Meetings. The Secretary will ensure that minutes are filed, and accessible to all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts, upon request or whenever necessary.

The Secretary will file and maintain all information related to all Students in the Association. The Secretary will ensure that this information is accessible only to the Board of Directors, and the Association's Instructors. The Secretary will be responsible for dispensing membership cards to Students and Black Belts.

The Secretary will be present at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In the Secretary's absence, the Board will temporarily appoint one of the Directors as Secretary for that respective meeting. For that meeting only, the appointed Director will assume all the responsibilities of the Secretary.

5. Treasurer. The Treasurer will be an Instructor or Black Belt with a professional background in accounting. The Treasurer will be responsible for managing the Association's finances, and for maintaining and monitoring the Association's savings and chequing accounts deposited with banks and other financial institutions.

The Treasurer will ensure that all training schools and classes sanctioned by the Association pay whatever sanctioning fees or other fees are due to the Association, as determined by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will ensure that funds collected are deposited promptly to the Association's savings and chequing accounts
deposited with banks and other financial institutions.

The Treasurer will maintain accurate records of all the Association's financial transactions, and will present the Board of Directors with information on all transactions, upon request. All expenditure of the Association's funds must first be approved by the Board under the advice of the Treasurer, who will be responsible for ensuring that the Association's funds are utilized solely to achieve the Association's Objectives.

6. Chief Instructor. The Chief Instructor will be the highest ranking active instructor. The Chief Instructor will be responsible for creating and updating the training syllabus to be utilized by all the Association's training schools and classes. This syllabus will reflect a commitment to continually enhance and improve Students and Black Belts, and will incorporate martial arts information geared towards improving taekwondo technique, self-defense, tournament sparring ability, or personal or mental development, where appropriate or relevant. The Chief Instructor will prepare and on a regular basis update examination manuals for Students, and will ensure that all new information relating to training regimen or techniques is disseminated to all Students throughout the Association. The chief instructor must overseas to international headquarters for training at least once every eighteen months.

The Chief Instructor will also be responsible for representing the interests of Instructors at Board Meetings, and will meet regularly with Instructors to communicate Board decisions. All training schools and classes throughout the Association must first be approved by the Board with special consideration be given to Chief Instructor recommendations, the Chief Instructor will ensure that training schools and classes perpetuate a training environment conducive to maximal training in taekwondo do. The Chief Instructor will have a deep understanding and appreciation of taekwondo do, and will be committed to maintaining the distinction between the Association's taekwondo and all other martial arts practiced locally. The Chief Instructor may act as or appoint a Technical Director.

7. Technical Director. The Technical Director will be an Instructor or a Black Belt with at least a Third-degree black belt in taekwondo do, and who has trained and attended at least two International Instructors' Course at the association international headquarters, San Diego. This criteria must be met prior to the election of the Board of Directors.

The Technical Director will be responsible for ensuring the technical proficiency of the Association's Instructors and Black Belts and for ensuring the standardization of all taekwondo do techniques taught by all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts. This will entail visits to all the Association's training schools and classes to arrange training with Instructors and Black Belts; staging special classes on a regular basis for Instructors and Black Belts; or ensuring that the Association either fully or partially sponsors, or requires mandatory or conditional attendance by Instructors or Black Belts to International Instructors Courses, or to other educational courses or programs, where appropriate and relevant. The Technical Director will endeavor to ensure that all the Association's Instructors and Black Belts are highly qualified martial artists and professional teachers and practitioners of taekwondo do.

The Technical Director must have a deep understanding and appreciation of all forms taekwondo traditions, and will be committed to maintaining the distinction between the Association's taekwondo do and all other martial arts practiced locally.

8. Marketing Director The Marketing Director will be responsible for conceptualizing and implementing the Association's marketing strategies, related to marketing, advertising and public relations. The Marketing Director will ensure that the Association's marketing strategies and activities are in keeping with the Association's Objectives. The Marketing Director will be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of any Executive Committees formed to assist in the implementation of the Association's marketing or other promotional activities. He/She will also ensure that association's member schools must not infringe on the immediate venue of a martial arts that is similar to our practice. This direct open competition is a violation to our principle.

The Marketing Director will ensure that the Association's image is of an international professional martial arts organization which is vibrant, progressive and uphold the values, ethics of the art in the implimentation of our growth

9. The Management Committees: The Marketing Committee The Marketing Committee will consist of the Marketing Director, and no more than two other persons chosen from the Association's Instructors, Black Belts or Students, to assist in the conceptualizing and implementation of the Association's marketing strategies, related to marketing, advertising and public relations.

At the Special General Meeting, the Marketing Director will choose no more than two members from the Association's Instructors, Black Belts or Students to be appointed to the Marketing Committee. The Committee will meet on a regular basis to review activities and objectives, and may on occasion request temporary assistance from the Association's Instructors, Black Belts or Students to assist in the implementation of specific activities.

The Marketing Committee will be responsible for arranging the advertising and media promotion of all Association events, including tournaments, seminars, black belt examinations. The Marketing Committee will ensure that the advertising and media promotion for events which are staged by individual Schools within the Association are properly arranged by the individual Schools, and that these events are in keeping with the Association's image and standards.

The Disciplinary Committee The Disciplinary Committee will consist of no more than three persons chosen from the Association's Instructors or Black Belts. At the Special General Meeting, the President will appoint an Instructor or Black Belt to chair the Disciplinary Committee. This Instructor or Black Belt will become a Director on the Board, and be termed the Director of Discipline. The Director of Discipline will then appoint no more than two Instructors or Black Belts to sit on the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will be responsible for monitoring the discipline of the Association's Instructors, Black Belts and Students. The Disciplinary Committee will adjudicate in all disputes and matters relating to discourtesy; lack of integrity; poor discipline; breaches of the Association's Constitution; breaches of the Association's Rules and Regulations; and breaches of the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body. The Disciplinary Committee will strive to uphold justice, and also to uphold the Association's image of integrity, fairness and objectivity.

The Disciplinary Committee may have matters referred to it by Instructors or Black Belts, or it may proceed on its own cognizance to address matters that the Disciplinary Committee considers to be in breach of the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body, or to be displays of discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor discipline.

The Disciplinary Committee will utilize its discretion to determine which matters merit disciplinary action, as opposed to advice or reminders to Instructors, Black Belts or Students as to appropriate behaviour within the Association's Constitution, the Association's Rules and Regulations, or the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body. The Disciplinary Committee will reserve disciplinary action for severe breaches of the Association's Constitution or Rules of Regulations, or the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body; or for extreme displays of discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor discipline. Members of the Association considered in breach of the Association's Constitution, Rules and Regulations, and the Rules and Regulations of the Association's governing body; or members who have displayed discourtesy, lack of integrity or poor discipline who are referred to the Disciplinary Committee, or who in the Disciplinary Committee's opinion merit consideration for disciplinary action, will be invited in writing to a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee. Members considered in breach will receive at least two weeks' notice of said meetings.

Disciplinary Committee meetings will be chaired by the Director of Discipline. The Committee will judge one dispute at a time, ensuring that the Committee's proceedings are privy only to members who are involved with the matter in question. The Disciplinary Committee will hear and receive testimony and evidence from all parties involved, either verbally or in writing, one party at a time. The Committee will then dismiss all parties involved, and will determine whether punishment or other disciplinary action is suitable or necessary. Punishment and disciplinary action will be in keeping with the Association's image of justice, integrity, fairness and objectivity. All parties involved will be called to be present to hear the Disciplinary Committee's decision and sentence on the matter. All punishment and disciplinary action will become effective three days after the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee.

Students considered in breach must be accompanied by their Instructors to Disciplinary Committee meetings. No member of the Association will be deemed beyond the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Committee. In matters involving Instructors or Black Belts who are of higher rank than the highest ranking member of the Disciplinary Committee, the President will facilitate the involvement and adjudication of a higher ranking Instructor or Black Belt.

President: Vacant
Vice President: Vacant
Secretary: Vacant
Chief Instructor: Delroy McDowell
Technical Director: Delroy McDowell
Treasurer: Vacant